Camping in Wildboarclough

Wildboarclough sits within the Peak District National Park, and as with the rest of England wild camping without the landowner's permission is not legal here, so any camping trip needs to be built around a proper campsite or a farmer's explicit consent rather than pitching up on the open moor. The terrain around the valley is classic gritstone Peak District: steep-sided cloughs, exposed moorland tops around Shutlingsloe, and working farmland, all of which makes informal camping impractical as well as against the rules, and campers should instead look to licensed sites in the surrounding villages of Wincle, Sutton, Rushton Spencer or further towards Buxton and the wider Peak District, many of which are geared specifically towards walkers tackling the local hills.

The best season for camping here runs from late spring to early autumn, when longer daylight hours make the most of an evening walk up Shutlingsloe or along the Clough Brook, and drier ground underfoot makes pitching a tent far more comfortable than during the wetter, boggier months of winter. Even in summer, this is exposed upland country close to the Pennine weather systems, so a sturdy tent, warm sleeping gear and waterproofs are sensible whatever the forecast promises, and it is worth choosing a site with some tree or wall shelter from the wind that funnels down these valleys.

For those who want the wild scenery without the logistics of tent camping, glamping pods, shepherd's huts and static caravans have become increasingly popular across the wider Peak District and Cheshire borders, offering a comfortable night under canvas-style accommodation within easy reach of Wildboarclough's footpaths. These sites typically combine the same views of Shutlingsloe and Macclesfield Forest with proper beds, heating and often a fire pit, making them a good option for families or anyone visiting outside the height of summer. Whichever type of pitch is chosen, booking ahead is strongly advised in peak walking season, as the small number of sites near this popular corner of the Peak District fill quickly.